Behind the Iron Curtain

Fear. I guess that is the single most thing in my mind at the moment. Fear of really having no idea of where I am and feeling that is a massive liability. At the border, our passports were checked and I suspected there would be a problem. The dude checking was in full military uniform, stern face and VERY serious.

My passport photo was taken during a time when I was in my art phase with a full beard. Now I'm clean shaven and the dude wasn't happy it was me easily (at first I was freaking out thinking that I needed a visa but I emailled the embassy to make double sure I didn't need one). The fact the train also had next to no one on it meant he had time to labour a point. All this was being translated too.

He moved on in the end but mental note to self, don't shave for the next couple of weeks - life probably would be a heck of a lot easier.

My translator then made the remark, 'now you are behind the iron curtain'. I guess growing up in the west during the 80s in the cold war, a certain stigma with an 'us and them' mentality developed at an informative age. Just seems that the west tolerates ignorance a little more where as in the east, it might get you locked up. My guide book is only Western Europe so I really am doing this by the seat of my pants. Hopefully once I get out and about a bit, I'll feel a little more settled as I certainly don't at the moment.